Historically, leatherback turtles were found in every ocean except the Arctic and Antarctic. Although they still have the widest global distribution of any reptile, their populations have declined dramatically and are now mainly concentrated in tropical and subtropical waters. The greatest threats to these endangered reptiles include entanglement in fishing gear and bycatch, hunting for meat, the collection of eggs for human consumption, and the ingestion of plastic debris. Among all populations, Pacific leatherback turtles are the most at risk of extinction, although all populations are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

In 2015 and again in 2018, two unfortunate incidents occurred in Maltese coastal waters. On both occasions, a leatherback turtle was found dead, floating at the sea surface. In each case, death was caused by plastic ingestion. These incidents highlight two important realities: the presence of leatherback turtles in the Mediterranean Sea, and the serious problem of plastic pollution within it.